President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
