The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
