Colombia's Leader Says 'I Will Return to Arms Again' if US Invades.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates narcotics facilities and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Growing Threats coupled with Allegations

Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."

While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.

A Frayed Relationship

The country was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Defiant Response

In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, categorically refuted the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Strains

The US revoked Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.

Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.