The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
