Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
