Colombian Leader Declares 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Escalating Tensions and Claims

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

The country was historically a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump came to office.

Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, which many of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.

From Insurgent to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection

Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Financial Sanctions

The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several close collaborators.

Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.