Colombia's President Says 'I Will Resort to Weapons Once More' should US Invades.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Threats coupled with Allegations

Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Alliance

This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump was elected.

Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Firm Response

In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.

From Fighter to President

He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.