President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
