Colombian Leader Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' if American Forces Invades.

President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He has cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," Trump added.

Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations

Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.

A Deteriorating Partnership

Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Answer

When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.

From Insurgent to President

He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.