President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
