Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
