President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
