Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
