The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
