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

President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric and Accusations

Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the trade.

A Deteriorating Relationship

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.

"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.

Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.