The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
