President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
