President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
