The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
