President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
