Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
