Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
