The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
