The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
