President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
