Colombian Leader Says 'I Would Return to Arms Again' if American Forces Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a landmark accord.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to President

Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the presidency.

"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Strains

Washington cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.