Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
