The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
