Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
