The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
