Colombia's President Declares 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' if US Invades.

President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Threats coupled with Accusations

Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened similar military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way connected to the business.

A Deteriorating Alliance

Colombia has long been a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump came to office.

Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

He passed some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Strains

The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.