The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
