Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if United States Launches an Attack.

President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.

A Frayed Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.

The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

The President's Firm Answer

Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion against their nation.

Political and Financial Pressure

The US revoked his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various key allies.

Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.