Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
