Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
