President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
