The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
