The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
