Colombian Leader Declares 'I Would Take Up Arms Once More' should United States Invades.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Growing Threats and Allegations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.

A Frayed Alliance

The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and enjoyed cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.

Its drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Response

When asked if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

The US revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.