Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
