President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
