The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization after he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
