Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
