Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
