President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
