Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
