The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
