Colombian President Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' if American Forces Invades.
The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
