Colombian Leader Warns 'I Would Return to Arms Once More' should American Forces Launches an Attack.

The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Growing Threats coupled with Claims

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."

While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the trade.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

The President's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to President

Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Economic Pressure

American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.

At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.