President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
