A strike on Colombia would mark a serious shift in Washington’s historic alliance with the country but Trump has not ruled it out as his spat with Colombian President Gustavo Petro escalates. On Friday, the White House added Petro and members of his inner circle to the so-called Clinton List, imposing harsh financial sanctions for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Trump has offered no evidence for his claims that Petro is “an illegal drug dealer”, but takes issue with the proliferation of coca cultivation and cocaine production under the current administration. The Colombian president has also been a vocal critic of Trump, accusing him of “murder” in his campaign against boats in the Caribbean.