Colombia's President Declares 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' if US Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Threats coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Strained Partnership

This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.

Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a historic peace agreement.

The President's Strong Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.

"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection

Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Economic Strains

American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.