Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Would Return to Arms Again' should United States Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.

A Strained Relationship

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack against their nation.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.