President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as 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 historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
