Colombian Leader Warns 'I Shall Return to Arms Once More' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

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

Rising Threats and Claims

Addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."

Although Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Alliance

This nation for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Firm Response

When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to President

Petro spent part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.

At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.