Colombian President Declares 'I Shall Return to Arms Once More' if American Forces Invades.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Rising Tensions coupled with Claims

Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he stated.

"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection

Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

Washington cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.

At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.