The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
