Colombia's President Says 'I Would Return to Arms Once More' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Relationship

This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation

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

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack against their nation.

Political and Economic Strains

The US revoked Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.