The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
