The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Tensions and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
