Colombian President Says 'I Would Return to Arms Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.

A Strained Partnership

This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Political and Economic Sanctions

The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.

At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.