Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
