Colombian President Declares 'I Will Return to Arms Again' should United States Launches an Attack.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Rising Tensions and Accusations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."

Although Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Alliance

The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he said.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.