The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
