Colombian President Says 'I Would Return to Arms Again' should American Forces Launches an Attack.

The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Partnership

This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Defiant Response

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various associates.

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