Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
