Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Return to Arms Again' should US Invades.
Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolรกs Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotรก before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sรกnchez reported that the presidentโs personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombiaโs conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuelaโs Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
