The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
