Colombia's President Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Tensions and Claims

Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.

A Strained Partnership

This nation has long been a key ally of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.

From Insurgent to President

He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.

At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.