Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
The US revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
