Colombia's Leader Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

The US President along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Colombia, asserting the nation faces serious problems and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Relationship

Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump came to office.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.

"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

Washington withdrew the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.