Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Will Resort to Weapons Again' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric and Allegations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

From Insurgent to Statesman

The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.

"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Financial Strains

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.

Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.