President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
