Colombian Leader Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.

A Frayed Relationship

The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.

"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Financial Pressure

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.