Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
