The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.