Colombia's Leader Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' if US Invades.

President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from office.

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

Rising Rhetoric and Allegations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."

Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally connected to the business.

A Deteriorating Alliance

Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump came to office.

The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Firm Response

When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."

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

"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the population loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.

"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.

Increased Security and Widespread Rejection

The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the notion of an invasion on Colombia.

Political and Economic Pressure

Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various key allies.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.