Colombian President Warns 'I Shall Return to Arms Again' if US Launches an Attack.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations

Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."

Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Alliance

This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump came to office.

The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.

From Insurgent to President

Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.