Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' should United States Invades.

Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to America."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally involved in the business.

A Frayed Partnership

Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Strong Response

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Statesman

He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.

"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation

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

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Financial Strains

The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and various key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.