President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following 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 his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Response
When asked if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
