Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
