Thousands of demonstrators have flooded the streets of Colombian cities in a powerful display of defiance against former US President Donald Trump's threats of military intervention in the region. The protests, called by Colombia's left-wing President Gustavo Petro, were a direct response to Trump's expressed interest in expanding military action into Colombia following a dramatic raid in Venezuela.
"Out With the Yanks": Anger Spills Onto Colombian Streets
In the border city of Cúcuta, hundreds marched towards the historic cathedral, waving Colombian flags and chanting "Fuera los yanquis!" ("Out with the Yanks!"). The sentiment was echoed nationwide, with a major rally in Bogotá's Bolívar Plaza where President Petro addressed a large crowd.
Protesters voiced raw anger and fear. Janet Chacón, a 55-year-old businesswoman, called Trump "the devil … the most abhorrent person in the world." Another marcher, José Silva, 67, dismissed Trump's claim to be a "president of peace" as a mockery after the abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. "He's the president of war … he's a maniac," Silva declared.
Petro's Call to Action and Trump's Provocative Comments
The mobilisation was triggered after Trump, commenting on last weekend's US special forces attack on Caracas which resulted in Maduro's capture, said the idea of similar action in Colombia "sounds good to me." This followed a personal insult where Trump labelled Petro "a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States"—an allegation for which there is no evidence.
Despite the tension, the two leaders held their first phone call shortly before the protests. Trump described it as a "great honour" on Truth Social, while Petro struck a cautious note, stating, "We cannot lower our guard" and that "words need to be followed by deeds."
Regional Shockwaves and Fears of Wider Conflict
The attack on Venezuela and threats against Colombia have sent shockwaves throughout Latin America, sparking solidarity protests in Mexico City, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires. Demonstrators condemned what they see as a "Yankee invasion" and a dangerous assertion of imperialism.
Reimont Otoni, a Brazilian congressman, articulated a widespread view: "The message from the people of Latin America is: 'Donald Trump, get your hands off Latin America. Latin America isn’t the US’s back yard.'" He and others argued Trump's primary motive was control over Venezuela's vast oil reserves, not democracy.
In Cúcuta, teacher Marta Jiménez, 65, warned that no nation in the region was safe. "It might be Nicaragua, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru – any of them," she said. Protester Juan Carlos Silva, 59, drew a stark comparison, fearing Trump was "trying to cause a third world war, just like Hitler did."
A Pattern of Intervention and Diplomatic Alarm
Analysts point out that the Venezuela assault is the most dramatic in a series of interventions since Trump returned to power. His administration has:
- Vowed to "take back" the Panama Canal.
- Launched a pressure campaign against Brazil's government.
- Waded into Honduras's election.
- Hinted at military action in Mexico against cartels.
This approach has horrified regional diplomats, with one describing White House behaviour as "unhinged." Benjamin Gedan, a former National Security Council director for South America, criticised Trump for being "astoundingly disinterested" in diplomacy and US global image. "He has concluded that he can bully governments into submission," Gedan said, noting a missed opportunity to frame Maduro's capture as a democratic move instead of an overt "resource grab."
As the US embassy in Colombia warned its citizens to avoid the potentially volatile protests, the scenes across the country made one thing clear: a deep-seated resistance to external intervention is mobilising, setting the stage for a tense new chapter in US-Latin American relations.
