Colombian President Warns 'I Would Resort to Weapons Once More' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

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

Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations

Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the US."

Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Relationship

The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.

"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's personal security was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.