The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as 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 Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Answer
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
