The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
