President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.