The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
