Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
