Colombian Leader Says 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' if United States Invades.

The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Rising Threats coupled with Claims

Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to America."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.

Political and Financial Strains

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.