Colombia's President Declares 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Once More' should American Forces Launches an Attack.

The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Firm Answer

When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Political and Financial Pressure

The US revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.

Concurrently as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.