Colombian President Warns 'I Shall Return to Arms Once More' if United States Launches an Attack.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.

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

Rising Tensions and Claims

Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Partnership

This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

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

"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to President

The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion against their nation.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.