The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
