The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
