Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should American Forces Invades.

Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the United States."

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

A Strained Alliance

This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

Colombia's Firm Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."

President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture me, whom many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

American authorities withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he called on US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several associates.

At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.