President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
