The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
