Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
