The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
