Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
