The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
