Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
