President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
