Colombia's President Warns 'I Will Return to Arms Again' should American Forces Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."

While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly following Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.

"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various key allies.

Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.