Colombian Leader Warns 'I Would Return to Arms Again' should United States Invades.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Growing Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.

Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Strong Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.

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

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Political and Economic Strains

The US withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.