The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
