Colombia's Leader Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' if United States Invades.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Growing Threats coupled with Allegations

Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."

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

A Strained Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Defiant Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition

The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Strains

Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.