President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
