The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
