The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
