Colombia's President Warns 'I Would Take Up Arms Once More' should US Launches an Attack.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Tensions and Claims

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."

Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Alliance

The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.

From Fighter to Statesman

The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.

"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Economic Strains

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.