The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
