Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
