The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. 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 weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
