Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
