Colombia's President Declares 'I Would Resort to Weapons Once More' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Rising Rhetoric and Claims

Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Strong Response

When asked if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.

"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of American military action against their nation.

Political and Financial Pressure

American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.