The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
