President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
