The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
