Colombian President Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' if US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Strained Relationship

The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.

The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.

Petro's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Statesman

He passed some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.

"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Political and Economic Pressure

American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.