Colombia's President Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' if American Forces Invades.

The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats and Allegations

Addressing reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way involved in the business.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, but relations have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.

The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Defiant Answer

In response to a query if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.

From Insurgent to President

The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Rejection

Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.

A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.

Political and Economic Sanctions

Washington revoked Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.