Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.

A Strained Alliance

The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Statesman

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.