President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
