President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
