President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
