Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
