The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
