The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
