The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
