The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
