Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
