Colombia's President Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if American Forces Invades.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the illicit industry.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal

In response to a query if military intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected the accusations. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated some years as a young man participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s personal security had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.