Colombia's President Says 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' should US Invades.

President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Escalating Threats and Claims

Speaking to the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to America."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is in any way tied to the business.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia was historically a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened significantly since Trump was elected.

The nation's illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.

The President's Firm Response

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

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.

"Trump speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Leader

The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.

"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

The US withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.