President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
