Colombian President Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Tensions coupled with Claims

Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.

Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to President

He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across the political spectrum have condemned the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.