The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
