The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, 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 narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
