Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
