President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
