President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
