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ELN Rebels Order Lockdown Amid Trump’s Threats of Military Action Against Drug-Producing Nations

Bogota, Colombia – The National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia’s largest remaining rebel group, has ordered civilians in territories under its control to remain indoors for three days starting Sunday, citing upcoming military drills in response to escalating threats from the United States. The ELN’s order comes amid President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric against Colombia and other nations accused of producing and exporting cocaine to the US, including potential military strikes.

“It is necessary for civilians not to mix with fighters to avoid accidents,” the ELN stated.

Trump has publicly warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro to “wise up, or he’ll be next,” referencing rising cocaine production and alluding to US military deployments near Venezuela. This week, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities, further escalating tensions in the region.

Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez denounced the ELN’s order as “criminal coercion,” vowing a continued government military presence throughout the country.

The escalating conflict comes as relations between the US and Colombia have sharply deteriorated since Trump’s return to office. Washington has imposed sanctions on Petro, cancelled his visa, and removed Colombia from its list of reliable counter-narcotics partners.

The ELN, which commands approximately 5,800 fighters, controls significant drug-producing regions, including areas along the Venezuelan border. The group has previously engaged in unsuccessful peace negotiations with successive Colombian governments. Discussions with the current Petro administration collapsed earlier this year after a deadly ELN attack. Despite claiming ideological motivations, the ELN derives significant income from narcotics trafficking.

Trump has recently deployed significant military assets to the Caribbean and has ordered multiple strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels, actions condemned by human rights groups, some US Democrats, and several Latin American countries as unlawful extrajudicial killings.

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