President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
