The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
