Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
