Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
