President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
