Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
