Colombia's President Warns 'I Will Resort to Weapons Once More' should US Invades.

The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their exchange, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," Trump remarked.

Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations

Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump hinted at similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly involved in the illicit industry.

A Frayed Partnership

The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Response

In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.

"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.

From Fighter to Statesman

Petro spent part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.

"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.

Reinforced Protection and Widespread Condemnation

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s security detail was strengthened.

A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.

At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.