Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Resort to Weapons Again' should American Forces Intervenes Militarily.

The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Threats and Allegations

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the trade.

A Strained Relationship

This nation has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Strong Answer

When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.

"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action against their nation.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

American authorities withdrew his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and several associates.

At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.