President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in 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 in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
