The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
