Colombia's President Declares 'I Would Return to Arms Once More' if US Invades.

The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Opposition

Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.