Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
