Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
