Colombia's President Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' if US Launches an Attack.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the US."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Firm Response

Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.