Colombia's President Says 'I Will Return to Arms Again' if US Invades.

The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.

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

Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations

Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, elected two years ago, is personally tied to the illicit industry.

A Strained Alliance

Colombia has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.

The nation's narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.

Colombia's Defiant Response

When asked whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.

"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.

"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.

From Guerrilla to Statesman

The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected the presidency.

"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.

Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection

Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had received additional support.

Many among Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of an invasion on Colombia.

Diplomatic and Financial Pressure

American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.