The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
