Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
