Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
