President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
