The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
