President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
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 executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
