Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if US Invades.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Talking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."

Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.

The President's Firm Response

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. And if they detain me, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection

The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.