Colombia's President Declares 'I Would Take Up Arms Once More' if US Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Escalating Threats and Claims

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

The country was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.

From Insurgent to President

He passed part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.