The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
