The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president threatened similar military action against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
