The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
