Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
