Colombian Leader Declares 'I Shall Return to Arms Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.

The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a landmark accord.

The President's Strong Response

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

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.

At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.