Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
