Colombian President Says 'I Shall Return to Arms Again' should US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Growing Tensions and Claims

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Relationship

This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump came to office.

The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Firm Rebuttal

When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition

Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various key allies.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.