The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
