President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
