Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
