Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
