President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
