Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
