The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
