The US President and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro'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 rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
