Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' should United States Launches an Attack.

The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.

Rising Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I swore not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.