President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
