Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains 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 Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
