The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
