Colombian President Says 'I Will Return to Arms Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

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

Rising Rhetoric and Claims

Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."

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 tied to the trade.

A Frayed Partnership

Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Strong Response

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

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.

"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection

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

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

The US cancelled the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.

Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.