The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
