The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
