Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
