President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
