Colombian President Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Talking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.

A Frayed Alliance

Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically since Trump came to office.

The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Strong Response

Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

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

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he said.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.