Colombia's President Says 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' if US Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions and Accusations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.

A Deteriorating Relationship

The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly since Trump was elected.

The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Strong Answer

When asked if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.