The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
