Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
