President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
