Colombian President Says 'I Would Return to Arms Again' if US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."

Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Defiant Response

When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.

Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.