The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
