The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
