Colombian President Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' if United States Launches an Attack.

The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.

Growing Threats and Accusations

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the trade.

A Frayed Partnership

Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.

Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Strong Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Increased Security and Broad Opposition

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various associates.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.