Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' should US Invades.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

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

Growing Threats coupled with Allegations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

The country was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have soured markedly after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms following a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Response

Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.

Increased Security and Broad Rejection

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

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.