President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
