Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
Although 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 tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
