The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
