Colombia's President Says 'I Will Resort to Weapons Once More' if American Forces Invades.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."

Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the business.

A Frayed Alliance

The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump was elected.

The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Defiant Rebuttal

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

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

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 engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Heightened Measures and Broad Rejection

Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various associates.

Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.