The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
