The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
