The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
