Colombian President Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if American Forces Invades.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Rising Threats and Claims

Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.

A Frayed Alliance

Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.

Colombia's Firm Answer

When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

Petro spent some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

Washington revoked his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.

Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.