President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
