President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
