Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Will Resort to Weapons Again' should US Intervenes Militarily.
The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.