Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
