President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
