President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
