President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened similar military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
