President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
