Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Growing Threats coupled with Claims

Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.

Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Strong Answer

When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Leader

Petro spent some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.