President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
