The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
