Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
