Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
