Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
