Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
