Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
