The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
