Colombia's President Warns 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

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

Rising Rhetoric and Allegations

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."

While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.

Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Strong Answer

When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.

From Fighter to President

He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.

Increased Security along with Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.