President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
