The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
