The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
