President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
