The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
