Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
