Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if United States Launches an Attack.

President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Growing Threats and Accusations

Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the trade.

A Frayed Alliance

The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Firm Response

When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to President

He passed a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and several associates.

Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.