Colombia's President Says 'I Will Resort to Weapons Once More' if United States Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Firm Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.

"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.

Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.