Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
