Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
