Colombian President Declares 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Once More' should US Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the business.

A Strained Relationship

This nation for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection

Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and various associates.

At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.