The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
