Colombia's President Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' if United States Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations

Addressing the press over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to America."

While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.

A Frayed Partnership

The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups 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 subsequent to a landmark accord.

Petro's Strong Response

Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to Leader

Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that the national leader's security detail had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have rejected the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

The US revoked the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of associates.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.