Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
