The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
