Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
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 took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
