Colombian President Warns 'I Would Return to Arms Again' if United States Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Rising Tensions coupled with Claims

Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar use of force against Colombia, asserting Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.

A Strained Alliance

The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.

The President's Strong Rebuttal

In response to a query if military intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

From Fighter to Leader

Petro spent part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.

"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

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

A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

The US revoked the president's entry visa after he urged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.