President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
