Colombian Leader Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Once More' if US Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to America."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly since Trump came to office.

The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.

"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Broad Rejection

Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

American authorities cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.