Colombian Leader Warns 'I Shall Return to Arms Once More' if United States Launches an Attack.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations

Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.

A Strained Alliance

This nation has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.

Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.

"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.