Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units struck 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.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
