Colombian President Declares 'I Shall Take Up Arms Once More' if US Invades.

President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations

Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."

Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly connected to the trade.

A Strained Partnership

The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.

Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.

The President's Strong Response

Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me."

The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.

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

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," he admonished.

From Fighter to Leader

He passed a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the presidency.

"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.

Increased Security along with Broad Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Pressure

American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes against the president, the first lady and a number of associates.

Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.