For decades, Colombia and the United States have been devoted allies, sharing military intelligence, a robust trade relationship and a multibillion-dollar fight against drug trafficking.

Now that is all at risk as the US ramps up deadly air strikes off Colombia’s coast and the leaders of both nations trade scathing verbal attacks.

US President Donald Trump called Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter and Colombia’s first leftist president, an “illegal drug dealer”. Petro called Trump “rude” and accused the US of murder, saying an American strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat had killed a Colombian fisherman in Colombian waters.

Petro has decried the massive build-up of US troops, warships and jets in the Caribbean, which, he charges, aims to force a change of governments in neighbouring Venezuela.

Relations between the nations hit their lowest point in memory on Monday as the Colombian government recalled its ambassador to the United States, and Trump vowed to suspend all US aid to Colombia and impose new tariffs on imports from the South American nation.