Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Would Return to Arms Once More' should United States Invades.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Strong Response

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he said.

Increased Security along with Broad Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various associates.

Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.