President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
