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

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

The President's Defiant Response

Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

The US revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several key allies.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.