Colombian President Declares 'I Will Return to Arms Again' should US Invades.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Threats and Claims

Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly connected to the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

The country for decades served as a key ally of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.

Its drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.

"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection

The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and various associates.

Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.