The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
