President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
