Colombian Leader Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if US Launches an Attack.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations

Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

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

A Frayed Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Firm Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Leader

Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

The US revoked his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.

At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.