The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
The US revoked the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
