The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
