Colombian Leader Declares 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' should US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Tensions and Claims

Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."

Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Relationship

The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Statesman

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.

"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and several key allies.

Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.