Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
