Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
