The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, 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.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
