Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' should US Invades.

President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Threats coupled with Accusations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."

Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.

A Strained Partnership

The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Defiant Answer

When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Financial Pressure

The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.