President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
