The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
