The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
