The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
