President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
