Colombia's President Declares 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' should American Forces Invades.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Rising Threats coupled with Claims

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to America."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Alliance

Colombia has long been a key ally of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Defiant Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition

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

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions

American authorities revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several associates.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.