Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Resort to Weapons Once More' if American Forces Invades.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations

Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.

A Frayed Relationship

The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Strong Rebuttal

When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

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

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.