President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
