President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
