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

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Strong Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar 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, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.