Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
