The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
