Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
