Colombia's President Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if US Launches an Attack.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

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

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to America."

Although Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Frayed Relationship

Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

The US withdrew his travel authorization following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.

Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.