President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
