Colombia's President Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' should US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the trade.

A Strained Partnership

The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump came to office.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

The US revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.