Colombia's Leader Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Once More' if US Launches an Attack.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Rising Tensions and Claims

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Partnership

This nation has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

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

Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition

Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Diplomatic and Financial Strains

The US withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.