Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' if United States Invades.
President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.