Colombian President Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."

Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

This nation was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.

Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.

The President's Firm Response

When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he expressed in a message.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of American military action against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

The US withdrew his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and a number of associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.