Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
