Colombian Leader Warns 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' if American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Alliance

The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.

From Fighter to President

He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.