Colombian Leader Declares 'I Will Take Up Arms Again' should US Invades.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Threats and Claims

Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."

Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is directly tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Relationship

The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump was elected.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he declared.

"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest me, which a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.

From Fighter to President

Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he said.

Increased Security along with Broad Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from across the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.

Bilateral and Economic Sanctions

The US revoked the president's entry visa following he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.

At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.