President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as 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 shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
