Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
