Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' if United States Invades.
Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.