President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
