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

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Threats coupled with Allegations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."

While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the trade.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have worsened markedly after Trump came to office.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Strong Response

Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good 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 an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.

"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of the country admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.

"I pledged to never again hold a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Broad Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack targeting Colombia.

Bilateral and Economic Pressure

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.