The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
