Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should American Forces Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats and Accusations

Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, stating the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.

Political and Economic Strains

American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.