The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
