The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
