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

President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions and Claims

Addressing journalists over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the business.

A Deteriorating Relationship

Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a landmark accord.

Petro's Strong Answer

In response to a query whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Leader

The president dedicated part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Economic Strains

The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.