Colombian President Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' should United States Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Escalating Rhetoric and Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the United States."

Although Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, yet ties have soured markedly after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.

The President's Defiant Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Increased Security and Broad Opposition

Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various associates.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.