President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
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 have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
