The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.