Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
