President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
