Colombia's Leader Says 'I Would Return to Arms Once More' if United States Launches an Attack.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.

Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who likes making narcotics and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Strained Alliance

The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump was elected.

Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded after a landmark accord.

The President's Defiant Response

In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.

"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

He passed part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he said.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he urged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.