Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
