The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
