President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
