President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove 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 Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
