Colombian President Says 'I Would Return to Arms Again' if United States Invades.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims

Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention against Colombia, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.

A Strained Partnership

Colombia for decades served as a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he expressed in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.

Political and Economic Strains

The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.

Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.