Colombian Leader Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' if American Forces Invades.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Escalating Tensions and Claims

Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.

A Strained Partnership

This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Strong Response

Upon being questioned whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.