Colombian President Declares 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' should US Launches an Attack.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations

Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Relationship

The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.

The President's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.

"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation

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

Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.

Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.