Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
