Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should US Invades.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric and Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.

A Strained Partnership

This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump was elected.

Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

The President's Defiant Response

Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several associates.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.