The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
