Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
