Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
