President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
