The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
