Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
