Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
