Colombian President Says 'I Would Take Up Arms Again' should United States Intervenes Militarily.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump threatened analogous use of force against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed 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 that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way tied to the trade.

A Deteriorating Alliance

This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have worsened significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.

Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters demobilised following a 2016 peace deal.

Petro's Strong Rebuttal

When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.

"If US bombs target peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.

From Insurgent to Leader

The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s personal security was strengthened.

Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.

Political and Financial Strains

American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.