Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if US Launches an Attack.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions and Allegations

Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured significantly following Trump was elected.

The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Broad Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.