The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured markedly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
