Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
