Colombian President Warns 'I Will Take Up Arms Once More' if US Invades.

The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.

"He has cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.

Rising Threats and Allegations

Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."

While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the trade.

A Frayed Relationship

This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.

Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members laid down arms following a landmark accord.

Petro's Firm Rebuttal

Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."

The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle decades ago, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.

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

"If US bombs target peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to President

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.

Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection

Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s protection team was strengthened.

Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.

Political and Economic Sanctions

Washington cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.

Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.