Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
