Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
