President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
