Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
