President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
