Colombian Leader Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Once More' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Growing Tensions coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."

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

A Frayed Alliance

This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Statesman

Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.

"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

The US revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.