The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
