Colombian President Declares 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Once More' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats and Accusations

Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."

While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Relationship

This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.

Colombia's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.

Political and Economic Strains

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.