Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Once More' should United States Intervenes Militarily.
President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.