Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
