Colombia's President Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' should American Forces Invades.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.

Rising Tensions coupled with Claims

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and distributing it to America."

While Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Relationship

This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Broad Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various associates.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.