Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if United States Launches an Attack.

President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Escalating Threats and Claims

Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.

A Frayed Partnership

The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.

Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.

From Insurgent to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.

Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.