The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
