Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
