President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
