President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
