The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
