Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
