Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
