President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "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 the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
