Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Resort to Weapons Again' should American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."

Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.

A Frayed Partnership

Colombia was historically a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Political and Economic Strains

The US revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.