Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
