The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
