The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
