Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
