Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
