Colombian Leader Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' should US Launches an Attack.

The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.

A Deteriorating Alliance

This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.

The President's Firm Answer

When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Political and Economic Strains

American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.