President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
