President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
