President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
