India, Jan. 6 -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro has openly challenged US President Donald Trump following a US military operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, sharply escalating diplomatic tensions in the region.

Condemning the US action on Monday, Petro issued a direct warning to Trump, saying, "Come get me. I'm waiting for you here."

He cautioned that any similar operation in Colombia would provoke widespread resistance.

A former left-wing guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, Petro added that while he had sworn never to take up arms again, he would do so "for the homeland" if Colombia were attacked.

The standoff intensified after Trump accused Colombia's leadership of fuelling the US drug cr...