Colombian President Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' should American Forces Invades.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.

A Frayed Relationship

Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.

Petro's Firm Answer

In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.