Colombian Leader Says 'I Shall Return to Arms Once More' if US Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats and Allegations

Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.

A Strained Alliance

This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.

Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Firm Rebuttal

When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed 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 took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.

"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation

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

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Pressure

The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.

At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.