The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "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 illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
