Colombia's President Declares 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' should US Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Tensions and Claims

Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Alliance

The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.

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

Political and Economic Pressure

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of key allies.

At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.