The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
