President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
