Colombian President Warns 'I Would Take Up Arms Once More' should US Launches an Attack.
Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened similar military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States 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 illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.