Colombia's President Says 'I Would Return to Arms Again' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."

While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured markedly after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.

"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.

Increased Security along with Broad Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.