President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
