President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
