Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' should US Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."

While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.

A Frayed Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Economic Sanctions

Washington withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.