Colombia's President Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.

The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Firm Rebuttal

Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection

The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Pressure

Washington revoked his travel authorization after he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.

At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.