Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote 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 a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
