The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
