Colombian President Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' should American Forces Invades.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations

Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader hinted at analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the US."

Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.

A Strained Alliance

The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Strong Answer

Upon being questioned if armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and I am not a narco," he stated.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.

"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.

"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he said.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, however, leaders from across the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Political and Economic Pressure

The US cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.