President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
