Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
