The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
