Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
