The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
