Colombian Leader Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' should US Launches an Attack.

President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Threats and Claims

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.

A Strained Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.

The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Firm Answer

In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several associates.

At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.