Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' should US Invades.

President Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening strains bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."

While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Strong Response

Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action against their nation.

Political and Financial Strains

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa after he encouraged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.