President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
