The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
