Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' should American Forces Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

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

Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."

Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Partnership

This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a landmark accord.

Petro's Strong Response

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.

"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before being elected president.

"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Political and Financial Pressure

Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and several associates.

At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.