Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
