President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
