President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
