Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
