Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
The US withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
