Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
