The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
