The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
