The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
