The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
