Colombian Leader Says 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' if United States Invades.

The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Threats and Allegations

Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Deteriorating Relationship

This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain me, whom a significant portion of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.

At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.