President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
