Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
