The US President and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
