Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
