President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
