Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if US Invades.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."

While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the trade.

A Frayed Alliance

The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.

The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

He passed some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and several associates.

Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.