President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
