Colombia's Leader Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' if United States Launches an Attack.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Rising Rhetoric and Accusations

Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."

Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Relationship

Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a landmark accord.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to President

The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning president.

"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.