Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
