Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
