Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
