Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.