President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
