The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
