Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if American Forces Invades.
Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Alliance
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.