Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
