Colombian Leader Declares 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if United States Invades.
Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.