The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
