The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
