President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
