President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
