President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
