Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
