Colombian President Warns 'I Will Return to Arms Once More' should US Invades.

Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.

"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.

Growing Tensions and Allegations

Addressing journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and selling it to the United States."

While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is directly tied to the business.

A Frayed Alliance

The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.

Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a landmark accord.

Petro's Defiant Response

Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."

President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a narco," he declared.

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

"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.

From Fighter to President

He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.

"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up arms again," he vowed.

Increased Security along with Widespread Condemnation

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

Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.

Bilateral and Financial Sanctions

The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.

Simultaneously as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.