Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' should United States Invades.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats coupled with Claims

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to America."

Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the business.

A Frayed Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security and Widespread Opposition

The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

The US cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.