Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
