Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Would Resort to Weapons Once More' if US Launches an Attack.

The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Growing Rhetoric and Accusations

Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.

A Frayed Relationship

The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Firm Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his wife and various associates.

At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.