The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.