President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
