Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
