The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
