Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
