The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
