President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
