BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — FARC dissidents warned the United States on Saturday that they would fight back against any "violations of Colombian sovereignty," after US President Donald Trump threatened to launch ground operations to target drug traffickers.

"We are used to fighting and combating whoever we must. We have always been staunch opponents of the American empire," the so-called Central General Staff (EMC) of FARC said in a text shared with journalists.

"We will not allow military interventions and violations of Colombian sovereignty."

Alongside a larger military buildup, the US has led at least 10 air strikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing at least 43 people it claims, without evidence, were involved in drug trafficking.

Colombia is the world's largest cocaine producer, and the EMC rebels control production in regions including Catatumbo on the Venezuelan border.

The group is led by Ivan Mordisco, who is considered to be the country's most wanted criminal, earning comparisons by President Gustavo Petro to infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar.

Trump has called Petro himself a "drug-trafficking leader" and has imposed financial sanctions on him.

He has also urged the leftist leader to "close" Colombia's coca fields "or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely."

Petro said Thursday that any ground aggression would be "an invasion and a breach of national sovereignty."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who also faces US sanctions and similar threats from Trump, has accused the White House of "fabricating a new eternal war" with the boat strikes.

Venezuela's Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said Saturday the country is conducting military exercises to protect its coast against any potential "covert operations" as the US expands its regional military presence.