Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' should American Forces Launches an Attack.
President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Rising Threats and Allegations
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.