President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
