Colombia's President Says 'I Will Return to Arms Again' should US Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Growing Threats and Allegations

Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."

While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the business.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

The US revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.

At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.