President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
