Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
