Colombian President Warns 'I Shall Return to Arms Again' if US Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Escalating Tensions and Accusations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the business.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.

The nation's illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Firm Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to President

Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

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

Heightened Measures along with Broad Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

The US withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.

Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.