Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
