Colombia's President Declares 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' should US Intervenes Militarily.
The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
