Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
