President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
