Colombian President Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' should American Forces Invades.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

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

Growing Rhetoric and Allegations

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."

Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump was elected.

Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.

"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Pressure

Washington revoked his travel authorization following he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.