Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
