The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Accusations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action against their nation.
Political and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
