Colombia's President Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should United States Invades.
The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.