Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' if US Launches an Attack.

President Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Rising Tensions coupled with Claims

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight 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 illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Defiant Answer

In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.

"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.