President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
