President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
