The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
