Colombian Leader Says 'I Will Return to Arms Again' should American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the trade.

A Strained Alliance

The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

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

Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection

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

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.