Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
