President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
