Colombia's Leader Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' should American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric and Claims

Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Partnership

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Firm Answer

Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition

Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various associates.

Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.