President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
