The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
