Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
