President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
