The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
