Colombian Leader Declares 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats and Claims

Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened similar military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."

Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

This nation was historically a key ally of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.

The President's Firm Answer

When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection

Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Financial Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.

Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.