Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
