The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
