Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
