Colombia's President Says 'I Shall Take Up Arms Again' should US Launches an Attack.

Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Rhetoric and Accusations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, claiming Colombia faces serious problems and “run by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."

Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the trade.

A Deteriorating Relationship

This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

He passed a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he said.

Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Strains

The US cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.