The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
