Colombia's President Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

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

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Frayed Relationship

The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Firm Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Insurgent to Leader

He passed a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and various associates.

Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.