Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as 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 Strained Relationship
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
