The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
