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

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Rising Threats and Allegations

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.

A Frayed Relationship

The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

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

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.

"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.

Increased Security and Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.