Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
