Colombia's President Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations

Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump threatened comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

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

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.