The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
