President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
