Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
