Colombia's President Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Once More' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric and Accusations

Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the business.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump came to office.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed online.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection

Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.