Colombia's President Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Once More' should American Forces Invades.

The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Rising Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.

A Strained Relationship

The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Firm Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to Leader

The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.