President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.