Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
