Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
