The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
