Colombia's Leader Declares 'I Would Resort to Weapons Again' should United States Invades.

Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He runs drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.

Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations

Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and “run by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the US."

While Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way involved in the trade.

A Strained Relationship

Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly after Trump came to office.

The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.

Petro's Defiant Rebuttal

In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.

"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted online.

"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.

From Insurgent to Leader

Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning president.

"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.

Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition

The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.

Bilateral and Financial Strains

American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and various key allies.

Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.