President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
