Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations

Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."

Although Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Firm Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

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

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.