Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
