The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Rising Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.