President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved 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 prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
