Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
