The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
