Colombian Leader Warns 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Threats and Accusations

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Relationship

This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security and Widespread Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

Washington withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.

Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.