Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
