The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
