Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
