Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
