President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured markedly since Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
