President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
