Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
