Colombian Leader Warns 'I Would Return to Arms Again' should United States Invades.

Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.

"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.

Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations

Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."

Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the business.

A Deteriorating Relationship

The country has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.

Colombia's Firm Response

Upon being questioned whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."

The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.

"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.

"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.

"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.

Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition

Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Pressure

Washington cancelled his travel authorization after he called on US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various associates.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.