The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
