Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' should US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Growing Tensions coupled with Claims

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.

The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

From Insurgent to Leader

He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.