Colombian President Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' should American Forces Invades.

President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Accusations

Addressing the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to America."

While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.

A Strained Relationship

The country has long been a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.

Colombia's Strong Response

In response to a query if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.

"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning president.

"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.

Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.