President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
