Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
