President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
