Colombia's President Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Once More' should American Forces Invades.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Alliance

This nation was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Firm Response

When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Leader

Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.