Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
