President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
