The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.