Colombian President Declares 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' should US Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Claims

Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the business.

A Strained Relationship

This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.

Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.

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

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Increased Security and Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.