The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
