Colombian President Says 'I Will Resort to Weapons Once More' if United States Invades.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions and Claims

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."

While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.

A Frayed Alliance

This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.

"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Widespread Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.