The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "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, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
