The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
