The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
