Colombia's Leader Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Threats and Allegations

Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Alliance

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

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

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Statesman

Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

The US withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.

At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.