Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Return to Arms Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.
Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” 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, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.