The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
