Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' should United States Invades.

Donald Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Rising Threats coupled with Claims

Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Alliance

The country for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.

Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.

The President's Strong Answer

When asked if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Guerrilla to President

He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I pledged not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s protection team had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

Washington withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.

Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.