Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Would Return to Arms Again' should American Forces Invades.
The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he urged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.