The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
