The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
