President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
