Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.