President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president threatened similar military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
